huahes



(No Model.) 6 sheets sheet 1.

0. HUGHES. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 599,236. Patented Feb. 15, 1898" ATTORNEY.

2 b e e h s m e e h s 6 T. G H G UH H w O (No Model.)

No. 599,236. Patented Feb. 15, 1898..

WITNESSES ATTORNEY.

(No Model.)

' .7 6 Shaets -Sheet 3. O. HUGHES.

A ROTARY ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 15, 1898.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 6 sheets-sheet is.

0. HUGHES.

v ROTARY ENGINE. No. 599,236. Patented Feb. 15,1898.

ATTORNEY.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.) 0. HUGHES.

ROTARY ENGINE. No. 599,236. Patented Feb. 15, 1898.

WITNESSES Ti NITED STATES PATENT @nricn.

OTTIS HUGHES, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,236, dated February 15, 1898.

I Application filed April 12, 1897. Serial No. 631,881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTIS IIUeHns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis,

in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rotary engines; and it consists in new and improved means whereby the revolving piston of the said engine is rendered perfectly steam-tight and whereby the supply of the actuating fluid to the engine is regulated automatically and economized, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I attain these ends by means of the construction and arrangement of the various parts constituting my engine and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of rererence designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the engine, taken through the line A B. (See Fig. 2.) Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken through the line C D. (See Fig. 1.)' Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the engine, partly in section, and

illustrating the governor or stearn-supply regulating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a longitu' dinal sectional elevational view of two engines connected together, showing the manner of compounding for the purpose of using the steam expansively. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of the rotary piston, taken through the line E F. (See Fig. 1.) Fig. 6 is a detail end view of the main-shaft journal-bearing. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the pivotal piston-packin g. Fig. 8 is detail views of the valve'rod bell-crank levers. Fig. 9 is detail views of the adjustable crank-lever connecting-rods. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the lower bell-crank lever and the connect ing-nod fork. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the sliding sleeve. Fig. 12 is a detail View of the bell-crank lever of the governor-pulley; and Fig. 13 is a sectional broken-off view of the rotary piston, showing the notched portion of the piston-center and the engaging shoulders of the packing-wing journals, whereby the carrying-rim is rotated on said center an amount sufficient to close the non-operating wings.

bolts 9.

The main driving-shaft 1 is mounted in the end bearings 2, which are vertically adjusted by the set-screws 3, said bearings 2 being firmly secured to the end cylinder-covers 4, both of which are alike, by suitable securingscrews 5, whereby the said main or driving shaft 1 isheld eccentrically relatively to the axis of the main cylinder, in which the rotary piston revolves.

The main cylinder is divided into upper and lower sectionst-he upper port-section 6 and the lower base-section 7--which sections are accurately fitted and jointed together by the lip-joints 8, secured by suitable securing- The upper cylinder-section 6 is provided with the ports 10 and 11, by means of which the actuating fluid or steam is supplied to one side of the cylinder by one of-said ports while being exhausted from the opposite side by the other port, according as it is required to run the rotary piston with a righthand or a left-hand rotation, and the intermediate or exhaust port 12, which is connected to and leads into the exhaust-passage 13, and the exhaust-steam is conveyed therefrom by a suitable exhaust-pipe 13 in the usual manner. The top face 15 of the top cylinder-section 6 is truly and accurately faced to receive the steam-chest 14, which is accurately fitted to said face 15 to form a steam-tight joint and is firmly secured there to by the securing-bolts 16. In the inner top or concave surface of the upper cylindersection 6 of the main cylinder is formed a rectangular groove or recess which extends entirely across the said cylinder-section and into which is fitted the similarly formed steam-packing strip 17, the bearing-face of which is slightly concaved to correspond with the peripheral surface of the rotary piston, said strip forced to a bearing on said piston by means of the packing-springs 17.

The rotary piston is composed of three distinct parts: first, the main or carrying center 18, which is firmly secured on the main shaft l-to rotate therewith; second, the carrying ring or rim, in which the packing wings or blades are journaled, is composed of the two opposing sections or halves 19, which abut at their central edges and are firmly bolted together by the securing-bolts 20 to form a steam-tight joint, said sections 19 provided.

with the inwardly-extending outer flanges 19 whereby the said carrying-rim is prevented from moving longitudinally on said of the end sections 21, which overlap at their central portions for the purpose of permitting said wings to spread or be extended to cause their outer edges to contact with the inner surfaces of the end covers 4 to not only form steam-tight joints at their outer edges of contact, but also preserve a steam-tight joint at the central portions of said blades, said packing-blades firmly bolted or otherwise secured to the pivotal centers or journals 22, which are also divided into end sections and are accurately fitted in their journal-bearings, formed in the carrying-sections 19. The inner end portions of the pivotal journals 22 are reduced in diameter to receive the metallic packing-rings 23, which are preferably elastic, and are not only formed to accurately fit over the reduced ends of the said centers 22, but are also truly turned to accurately fit the central portions of the journals of the said pivotal centers. In the inner ends of the pivotal centers 22 are formed pockets or recesses which register and in which are placed the separating-springs or packing-springs 24, which separate said packing-sections to cause them to spread, as hereinbefore described. The steam-packing carrying-sections 19 have also segmental grooves formed in their end surfaces, and into which are fitted the packin g-rin g segments 25,which are forced outwardly to contact with the surfaces of the covers 4 by the packing-sprin gs 26.

It will be observed on referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 13 that the packing wings or blades 21 of the rotative piston center are divided into two series, one of the series opening in a left-hand direction, the other series opening in a right-hand direction and each pair of the journals 22 of the series of piston packing-blades is provided with the opposing recesses 22" and 22 the opposing square shoulders of each of which recesses are adapted to engage the square shoulders formed at the extreme ends of the peripheral recesses 18 and 18 formed in the center 18. Thus as the right-hand packing-blades 21 are rotated in a left-hand direction (see the arrow) to extend or open to receive the force of the steam or actuating fluid against their concave faces the shoulders of the recesses 2 contact the shoulders at the end of the recess 18, thereby causing a partial left-hand rotation of the rim 19 on its carrying-center 18 and at the same time causing the opposing shoulders at the opposite ends of the peripheral. recesses 18 to contact the shoulders hand'series of piston packing blades or wings are extended, as when a reverse direction of rotation of the rotative piston 18 and the parts connected thereto is required and will be readily understood from the foregoing without further explanation.

The main valve 27 is truly faced on its under bearing-surface to accurately fit and to slide on the steam-chest face 15, said valve provided with the exhaust-chamber 28 on its bottom side, and on its top side is formed the recess 29, into which the rounded end portion of the valve-crank 30 fits, said crank formed integral on the inner steam-chest end of the valve -shaft 31, which latter is prolonged through the side of the said valve-chest 14 and is supported in the gland-bearing 32, which is provided with a suitable gland 33 and the gland-cap 34,by which latter the gland 33 is caused to compress the packing around the valve-shaft and in the bearing 32 to form a steam-tight joint.

On the prolonged or projecting end of the main shaft 1 is firmly secured the governorpulley 35, which is provided with the guiderods 36, screwed at their inner ends into the diametrically opposite sides of the hub of the said pulley, and said guide-rods have their outer ends screwed into the rim of said pulley, and on these guide-rods are mounted the cross-heads 37, which are adapted to slide on said guide-rods torecede from or approach the center of rotation of the pulley. On the opposite threaded ends of the stems of the said cross-heads 37 are secured, preferably .screwed, the centrifugal governor-weights 38,

IOC

which latter are of hemispherical form. The

centripetal coil-sprin gs 39 surround the guiderods 36 and are provided for the purpose of counteracting the centrifugal forces of the weights 38 in the manner usual with all classes of centrifugal governors.

The cushion-washers 40 are provided for the purpose of preventing jar or shock to the parts of the governor when the centrifugal weights 38, by reason of a higher than a normal rotation is attained, suddenly fly outwardly or are forced suddenly inwardly by the centripetal force of the springs 39,0r when the centrifugal force of said weights 38 is reduced, which variations of force in either extreme is absorbed by said cushions when the cross-head 37 contacts therewith. The cushion-Washers 40 are constructed of a resilient material, preferably of rubber. The set-pins 41, which pass through the governor-weights 38, are provided for the purpose of preventing a rotation of the said weights to become loose and to move out of place. The bellcrank levers 42 are slotted to receive the bear ings of the stems of the cross-heads between the threaded ends and the centralportions thereof, which bearings accurately fit in said slots of said bell-crank levers.

QIIC

The levers 42 end of the said valve-shaft.

hubs. Between the lever-arms of the said bell-crank levers are pivoted the links 44, which are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the collar 45, which is adapted to slide longitudinally on and to turn with the main shaft 1. The supporting-bracket or outer board bearing bracket 46 is secured to the end of the cover 4 and forms an outer supporting-bearing for the said valve rod or shaft 31. The reversing-lever 47 is secured on the end of the valve-shaft, said lever provided with a latch 48 and a suitable latch mechanism for raising and lowering the said latch 48 into or out of engagement with either of the notches 49, formed in the bracket 46, as shown in Fig. 3, said latch mechanism provided for the purpose of maintaining said lever in whatever position it may be placed in either forward or backward gear to cause the valve mechanism to operate the engine to rotate in eithera right-hand or a lefthand direction. The bell-crank levers 50 are both alike in form and are each pivoted on the valve-shaft 31 side by side and held in position on said shaft by the retaining-collar 51, secured in any suitable manner on the The lower leverarms of the said levers 50 are connected, by the adjustable connecting-rods 52 to the fork 53, which latter is pivotally connected with the upper arm of the bell-crank lever 51, which latter is fulcrumed on the bracket &6, said lever 54 having the lower end of its lower arm constructed in the form of a ball, which latter is adapted to accurately tit and freely work in the annular groove 45, formed in the peripheral surface of the collar 45. Thus as the governor-weights 38 are caused to be moved outwardly or spread apart by reason of the centrifugal force due to the velocity of rotation of said governor-pulley 35 a proportionate amount of translation is imparted to the sleeve .45, and this motion of translation of the said sleeve is again imparted, through the connecting bell-crank lever 54, the connecting-fork 53, the connecting-rods 52, and, finally, the bell-crank levers 50, to simultaneously impart motion. to the latter, thereby causing a similar motion to be communicated to the valve-shaft 31, through the reverse-lever 17, to cause the main valve 27 to either partially close or fully close either of the main ports 10 and 11, as the case may be, to regulate the supply of the actuating fluid therethrough and thereby keep the speed of rotation of the engine under complete control.

The steam or other fluid under pressure is supplied to the steam-chest 14 by the steam supply pipe 55, which latter is connected to a suitable boiler or other source of supply. When the valve 27 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, steam from the steanrchest 11 will pass through the port 11 into the main cylinder and will exert pressure against the concave surface of the packing blades or wings 21 of the rotary piston, thereby causing a rotation of the piston-center 18, together wit-h the shaft 1, whereon the said center is secured. When the packing-blade 21 has been carried around in the interior of the engine-cylinder till its tip or end bearing on the interior surface of the said cylinder arrives at the'bottom edge 10 of the port 10, the actuating fluid or steam, which has now performed its function, is exhausted successively through the port 10, the valve-cavity 28, the exhaust-port 12, the passage 13, and, finally, through the exhaust-pipe 13 into the atmosphere. At the moment the steam is exhausted from the main cylinder the next in succession of the series of the blades 21 has been moved into position relatively to the port 11 to be operated upon by the steam flowing through said port, and thus the said blades are successively moved into said positions to steam and exhaust. If the valve 27 is moved into the position opposite to that shown in Fig. 2-that is, to connect the port 11 with the port 12 and open the port 10 to steamit will be readily understood that a reverse rotation of the said shaft 1 will result and the blades 21 will open to steam, while the blades 21 will be forced to seat'or close, as hereinbefore described.

This type of rotary engine may be com pounded to use the steam or'other actuating fluid'expansively by connecting on the shaft 1 a second engine similar in point of construction in every respect to that of the first or primary engine except as to the dimensions, which latter must be increased in the secondary engine in such a manner so as to obtain an increased area of the wings or blades 21. to provide ample surface to receive the expansive force of the greater volume of the steam exhausted from the primary engine. This increase in the area of the blades 21'of the secondary engine may be readily accomplished by either increasing. the diameter of the secondary cylinder over that of the primary one or by maintaining the said diameters'in both the primary and secondary cylinders and increasing the interior length of the cylinder and the inclosed piston of said secondary cylinder to obtain the desired area. The exhaust pipe 13 of the primary engine is connected by a branch pipe 56 to the steamchest 14 of the secondary engine, and the actuating fluid exhausted from the said primary engine is used a second time in said secondary cylinder and finally exhausted, through the pipe 13", into the atmosphere, or the said exhaust-pipe 13 may be connected to a suitable condenser in the manner usual in condensingengines. A branch or by-pass pipe 57, having a shut-off valve 58, connects the steampipe 55 and the branch pipe 56 and is provided for the purpose of supplying live steam to the secondary or expansive engine when starting and when a great resistance has to be overcome. direction as that of the arrow (indicating the direction of the flow of the steamlmay be A check-valve o enin in the same inclosed in the globe or elbow connecting piece or coupling 56 and is provided for the purpose of preventing a backward flow of the steam into the exhaust side of the primaryengine cylinder to produce a retarding back pressure on the piston thereof.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of this my invention,what I claim as new and useful, and desire to cover by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

1. In a piston for rotary engines, the combination with a piston-center having a longitudimounted in said rim to permit the opposite swing or rotation of said blades, said journals having longitudinally-extendingrecesses the shoulders of which are parallel with the said longitudinallyextending peripheral shoulders and are adapted to engage the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a piston for'rotary engines, the combination with a cylindrical center having longitudinally-extending peripheral recesses, each of the ends of which recesses terminate in abrupt shoulders, a rim composed of endopposing halves jointed and securely connected together, said rim loosely mounted on said center, inwardly-projecting outer flanges formed on said rim-sections, of a series of journals mounted in said rim and having their axes parallel with the axis of said rim, said journals provided with shoulders adapted to abut the end shoulders of said peripheral recesses, and suitable packing-blades secured on said journals and arranged to swing open in opposite directions, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having its ends closed and provided with induction and eduction ports, a shaft mounted eccentrically in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, of a piston-center having a longitudinallyextending peripheral recess, a rim loosely mounted on said center, a series of pairs of oppositely-swinging packing-blades pivotally mounted in said rim, and shoulders on each of said. journals adapted to engage the end shoulders of said peripheral recess, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a rotary engine,the combination with a cylinder having its ends closed and provided with suitable induction and eduetion ports, a shaft adjustably and eccentrically mounted in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, of a piston-center having peripheral longitudinally-extending recesses, a rim loosely mounted on said center, a series of pairs of oppositely-swinging packing-blades pivotally mounted in said rim and shoulders on each of said journals adapted to engage the end shoulders of said recess of said piston-center, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having its ends closed and provided with the ports 10, and 11, and the intermediate port 12, and a slide-valve adapted to be moved to connect either of said ports to said intermediate port, of a shaft adjustably and eccentrically mounted in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, a piston-center having longitudinally-extending peripheral recesses, a rim loosely mounted on said center, a series of pairs of oppositely-swinging packing-blades pivotally mounted in said rim, and shoulders on the journals of said blades adapted to engage the shoulders on the ends of the recesses of said piston-center, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having its ends closed and provided with the ports 10, and 11, and the intermediate port 12, a slide-valve adapted to be moved to connect either said end ports to the intermediate port, and means for automatically operating said valve to regulate the supply of steam to said ports, of a shaft adjustably and eccentrically mounted in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, a piston-center having longitudi 'nally-extendingperipheral recesses, a rim loosely mounted on said center, a series of pairs of oppositely-swinging packing-blades pivotally mounted in said rim, and shoulders on the journals of said blades adapted to engage the shoulders of said recesses of said piston-center, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder composed of an upper port-section and a lower base-section, said upper section having the ports 10, and 11, and the intermediate port 12, a slide-valve adapted to conneet either end port to said intermediate port, and means for automatically operating said valve, when in either forward or backward position, to regulate the supply of the steam, of a shaft adj ustably and eccentrically mounted in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, a piston-center having longitudinally-extendin g peripheral recesses, a rim loosely mounted on said center, a series of pairs of oppositely-swinging piston packing-blades pivotally mounted in said rim, and shoulders on said journals of said blades adapted to engage the recess-shoulders of said piston-center, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination With a cylinder having its ends closed and provided with induction and eduction ports, a shaft mounted eccentrically in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, a piston-center having longitudinally-extending peripheral recesses, and a rim loosely mounted on said center, of a series of piston packing-blades, each composed of end separable sections overlapping at their central portions, journals mounted in suitable hearings in said rim and whereon said blade-sections are secured, said journals each composed of end sections, the inner ends of which are reduced, center packing-rings overlapping the inner reduced ends of said journal-sections, shoulders on said journals adapted to engage the shoulders formed at the ends of the recesses of said piston-center, and separating between each of the ends of said journals, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In arotary engine, the combination with a cylinder having its ends closed and provided with induction and eduction ports, a shaft mounted eccentrically in said cylinder and extending longitudinally therethrough, a

springs between the ends of said journals, all

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTIS HUGHES.

Witnesses:

THoMPsoN R. BELL, J OHN S. BURRIS. 

